Despite what you may think when you look out the window, summertime is upon us. So, as always, we at ely have chosen some wines for your summertime enjoyment. They won’t just be whites- reds, rosés, sparkling and sweet all deserve their day in the sun, so to speak.

We have chosen wine which we think best reflect that summertime feeling- fresh, easy and fun. Nothing to serious here! These are wines to be enjoyed al fresco, ideally on one of our sunny terraces! So as soon as you see that sun emerge from the clouds, get down to ely and try a glass of one of these wonderful wines!

Paparuda Pinot Noir, Timisoara, Romania 2012   

A new wine to our portfolio from a country where wine production is taking giant leaps forward in terms of quality. The winery is situated in the western part of the country, close to the town of Timisoara. It is produced by a Romanian/English couple who have enlisted the help of an Australian consultant.

The flavour profile lies somewhere between traditional Pinot Noir and very good Gamay. Lovely fresh red berry fruit, soft and juicy on the palate, this is a rare example of a Pinot Noir bargain.

If you are looking for a red to drink chilled, or just cool, look no further than this.

Raphael Palacios ‘Bolo’ Godello, Valdeorras, Spain 2013

For quite some time now we in Ireland have been exposed to the joys of Albarino, either on holidays in Spain where it is wonderfully priced, or here, where it can often be just too expensive for what it delivers.
But now there a new grape on the scene – Godello. That is just the Irish wine scene- the earliest recorded mention of it in Spain goes back to 1531!

The grape was on the verge of extinction in the 70’s but has since undergone a significant revival. It is most widely grown in Northwest Spain, the region which is also home to Albarino. But while once Godello was considered second best, it is now widely accepted to be a far superior variety.
Similar to Albarino in terms of flavours- ripe melon and peach, but with lovely citrus acidity- it has greater body, complexity and aging potential. Raphael Palacios is probably the current master of Godello, producing some of Spains best white wines such as ‘As Sortes’ a stunning, barrel-aged Godello reminiscent of great white Burgundy.  ‘Bolo’- one of our favourites- emphasises the freshness and minerality of this fantastic variety.